One would think the finance minister would value highly the thrift, since Japan's debt is 200% of GDP. If citizens hadn't bought it, China might have.

12:01 am February 19, 2013

To Tell the very Truth... wrote:

Tipically japanese: they are always happy to make fun of foreigners, heavily pointing out their "lacks" but cry like babies each time a foreigner do the same: they even have forged a term for that, that's "Japan bashing". Just one word: if Japanese can save so much, it's maybe there are too much public money spent for them. Just compare the level of National Debt in Italy (about 100% of GDP) to the huge 240% of the japanese GDP. Who is laughable now, idiots !

4:50 am February 20, 2013

sashimi wrote:

According some data I have, the household saving rates of Italians are two times the saving rates of Japaneses during the lates 20 years. I'm not sure what kind of 'Italian friends' he has.

2:43 pm February 20, 2013

Anonymous wrote:

The Italians have chosen life! The Japanese have chosen to suffer—with savings. The Japanese would have to be some of the least happiest people I have met in my travels.

themselves proud slaves of Japanese emperor. Being willing and humble slaves, they do not have sufficient integrity and solemnity in conducting themselves in public behaviors. Loose lips and opportunistic aggression with full devotion are characteristics of Japanese politicians. Many historic errors, miscalculations, seemingly clever schemes, and disasters are wrought because of those characteristics.

12:34 pm February 22, 2013

Anonymous wrote:

I don't think the minister's comments were intended to insult the Italians. I think he was saying the Japanese need to increase their consumption. As for debt-to-gdp ratio, it really doesn't mean much when 10Y JGBs are still trading around 0.7-0.8% and over 90% of JGBs are owned by domestic investors.

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